In the midst of Utah royalty
For women like Kayla Hall, Lindsey Lopez and Taylor Williams, the college experience goes much further than just attending class and studying.
By first glance they appear to be average young women, each with different backgrounds and areas of study. However, they all share a common element – they are royalty, at least by beauty pageant standards.
In 2008, Hall was crowned Miss Utah and received a two-year full-tuition scholarship to USU. Because of the scholarship, she said she was able to graduate with honors in public relations and political science. Hall is currently the communications specialist for USU’s Institute of Politics.
“Sometimes pageants have a negative stereotype,” Hall said. “But the things that people don’t realize is these are incredibly intelligent and successful women. When I competed at Miss America, there were girls there who were doctors and scientists and engineers. It is so much more than just having a pretty face.”
According to the Miss America Organization, it is the largest scholarship program for young women in the world, providing more than $45 million in scholarship assistance to young women in the U.S. from ages 17-24.
USU has contributed scholarships to the Miss Utah Organization for a number of years, Hall said.
Concurrent with the Miss America Organization’s focus on service in the community, each competitor is required to create a platform of service that she will use throughout her tenure as a titleholder, Lopez said, adding that the service platform was what initially caught her attention.
While attending BYU-Idaho as a nursing major, Lopez said she decided to passionately pursue vocal performance; so, she packed up her things and transferred to USU.
She said she heard about the Miss Cache Valley Pageant, a local pageant hosted by the Miss America Organization. In January, Lopez competed and won the title of Miss Cache Valley.
“I love serving my community and reaching out to others. I also love to perform,” Lopez said.
As a young girl, Lopez said she had low self-esteem and was bullied by her classmates, so for her platform Lopez decided to combat low self-esteem at USU and in Cache Valley through the Dove Campaign for real beauty.
The Dove Campaign promotes the importance of a healthy body image, a healthy lifestyle and a healthy self-esteem, she said.
“As Miss Cache Valley, I have had the opportunity to better the community I now call home,” Lopez said. “It is a great experience to be a part of the USU community and an even greater experience to serve those who are in it.”
While balancing a full schedule at USU, Lopez said she has also traveled around Cache Valley speaking to young women, promoting her platform and attending various community events.
“I have gained so much by participating in this organization,” Lopez said. “Not only has it helped with my education, but it will someday help me in my chosen profession because of the opportunities and experiences I have had during my reign as Miss Cache Valley.”
Williams, Miss Cache Valley 2009, also got involved in pageantry, she said, not only for scholarship assistance but for service and progressing her talent of dancing.
Williams said she is currently apart of a nursing program at USU through Weber State University. She attributes her educational decision and her affiliation with USU to her involvement in pageants.
“I competed in six pageants, and at each one USU has been a major scholarship provider,” Williams said. “Pageants have not only helped me to progress in my education in the medical field but to promote heart health in women.”
Williams’ platform involved educating women about heart disease. For the past few years she said she has worked with the American Heart Association, raised money for medical research and traveled Utah speaking to women about their hearts.
“When you are going to school it is hard to get out in your community and be actively involved and even harder to keep up on your talents,” Williams said. “But being apart of the Miss America Organization and holding a title helps with both of those.”
– marisa.nielsen@aggiemail.usu.edu